CORTEX experiments – Part I: Modulation campaigns in AKR-2 & CROCUS for the validation of neutron noise codes
Journal article, 2025
We present the experimental campaigns – namely, three per facility – carried out between 2018 and 2021 in the AKR–2 and CROCUS zero power reactors within the framework of the Horizon 2020 European project CORTEX. Their purpose was to produce high-quality and noise-specific experimental data for the validation of the neutron noise computational models developed in CORTEX. In both reactors, perturbations were induced by two devices, separately and altogether. In AKR–2, they consisted of a rotating absorber, i.e. an absorber of variable strength, and a linear oscillator, i.e. a vibrating absorber, both sets in horizontal channels close to the core. In CROCUS, the project benefited from the COLIBRI experimental program and its fuel rods oscillator set in the outer lattice; an additional vibrating absorber called POLLEN was set in a vertical air-channel at core center. The campaigns at both facilities consisted of neutron measurements with numerous detectors at reference static states, and with the addition of the mechanical perturbations to induce neutron reactivity modulation. The present article documents the experimental setups and measurements for each facility and perturbation type. A focus is set on the experimental designs and their evolution along the project, as well as motivations and learned lessons. Results are presented and discussed in details in associated papers.
Core monitoring and diagnostics
Neutron noise
POLLEN
CORTEX
CROCUS
MiMi detectors
Zero-power reactor
AKR-2
Noise analysis
COLIBRI
Research reactor experiment
Neutron modulation
Author
Vincent Lamirand
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL)
Paul Scherrer Institut
A. Knospe
Technische Universität Dresden
K. Ambrozic
Jozef Stefan Institute
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL)
University of Ljubljana
S. Hübner
Technische Universität Dresden
Carsten Lange
Technische Universität Dresden
Oskari Pakari
Paul Scherrer Institut
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL)
Fanny Vitullo
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL)
A. Rais
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL)
J. Pohlus
Institut für Sicherheitstechnologie (ISTec) GmbH
Uwe Paquee
Institut für Sicherheitstechnologie (ISTec) GmbH
Christoph Pohl
TÜV Rheinland Consulting
Nicolas Weiss
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL)
Pavel Frajtag
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL)
Paul Scherrer Institut
D. Godat
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL)
Antonios Mylonakis
Chalmers, Physics, Subatomic, High Energy and Plasma Physics
Axel Laureau
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL)
Grenoble Alpes University
Thomas Ligonnet
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL)
Mathieu Hursin
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL)
Gregory Perret
Paul Scherrer Institut
Andreas Pautz
Paul Scherrer Institut
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL)
Annals of Nuclear Energy
0306-4549 (ISSN) 1873-2100 (eISSN)
Vol. 211 110928Core monitoring techniques and experimental validation and demonstration (CORTEX)
European Commission (EC) (EC/H2020/754316), 2017-09-01 -- 2021-08-31.
Subject Categories
Other Physics Topics
DOI
10.1016/j.anucene.2024.110928